Shoe and method of making same



Feb. 13, 1934. Q H S 1,947,288

SHOE AND METHOD OF-MAKING SAME Filed May 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 17 594. 112 .2. 4 7 l 6 E 5 w V i 2 a owrregy Feb. 13, 1934. c. H. DANIELS SHOE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Filed May 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 I f./ I

ziwimim In vewi 'or Patented Feb. 13, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- My present invention relates to boots and shoes, and more particularly to that type of boots or shoes wherein the upper is laced, braided or thonged to the sole or a portion thereof, and also includes a novel method of making such shoes, as well as a novel joint between shoe parts or sections, whether upper and sole, or upper sections.

One object of the present invention resides in the provision of a boot or shoe constructed according to my present methods that will be simple to manufacture, neat in appearance, rugged, strong and durable, and yet flexible to permit full ease of walking.

A shoe constructed according to my invention will also be cool towear, as some ventilation through the shoe will be provided, more or less depending upon which of the forms or methods is utilized. v

Basically considered, the invention contemplates the union of an upper section with a sole, or with an adjacent upper section, by means of a superimposed layer, strip or flange. \Said superimposed element is provided with apertures therethrough, and the upper materials are provided with slits or slots in register with said apertures. In applying a thong, lacing or braid to unite the said elements, said lacing is first intro-= duced through one of said apertures, then through one of the registered slits or slots in the upper material, passed beneath the upper material, and then outwardly through the other of said slits or slots in register with the same aperture, and thence outwardly through the said flrst aperture. lacing is completely woven, said lacing being tightened, either as the weaving progresses or after it is completed, and this tightening pulls that portion of the upper material which lies between the slots or slits therein outwardly, at least partially positioning same in the aperture in the superimposed layer or element.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the slits or slots in the upper material are in pairs, the slits or slots in each pair being preferably parallel, and each pair of slits or slots being located in. register with a single aperture in the superimposed layer. The method of weaving, lacing or braiding above briefly described is simple, and capable of being carried out with considerable speed, while resulting, in the completed shoe, in a neat, attractive and ornamental appearance. v

Other methods of attaching are feasible with the shoe structure above briefly described, and

This operation is repeated until the some of these will be discussed herein as the description of the invention progresses.

All of the above and other objects and features of the invention, details of construction, combinations of parts, and advantages, will be hereinafter more fully pointed out, described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a completed shoe constructed according to my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary detail illustrating the preparation of the upper materials;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a sole illustrating the preparation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3 with the sole flange or lip turned up;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, onan enlarged scale, on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1; 7

Figs. 6 and 7 are enlarged cross-sectional details on the line 6-6 of Fig. 1 illustrating the progression of the weaving and tightening of the braiding thong or lacing; I

Fig. 8 a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the toetportion of the completed shoe of Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is aside elevation of the toe portion of a shoe illustrating a modification;

Fig. 10 is a top plan view of the toe portion of a shoe illustrating the utilization of my invention in uniting two upper sections, such as a moccasin tongue and vamp;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view on' the line 11-11 of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary detail illustrating a. different method of braiding the structure of Fig. 10.

Referring now to the drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of the present invention, the technique for preparation of the sole 1 is as follows: Said sole is channelled as at 2, then the sole proper is trimmed down to the marginal edge 3. A flange or lip 4 remains, of substantially greater area than the remaining area of the sole proper, and this flange is provided, adjacent to its outer periphery, with a plurality of spaced apertures or perforations 5, preferably equispaced, as will be appreciated. Intermediate these apertures 5 and the inner margin of the flange 4 is provided a plurality of slits or slots 6, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3. This sole may then be molded or otherwise shaped to substantially the contour illustrated in fragmental detail in Fig. 4, with the flange 4 upstanding and preferably partially rounded or curved. 7

iue' The technique of preparing the upper materials 7 for assembly and cooperation with the sole 1 is simple, and resides in providing said upper ma terials, adjacent to their lower marginal edges, with spaced pairs of slits or slots 8, these slits or slots 8 being preferably of somewhat greater length than the height of the apertures 5, and one pair of said slots or slits 8 being located, when the upper and sole are assembled, in register with each of the apertures 5. When thus assembled, with the pairs of slots or slits 8 in register or substantial register with their respective aper tures 5, the shoe is now ready to be united, and this is accomplished in a simple and expeditious manner, as follows:

As a fastening or uniting instrumentality, I may utilize a lacing, thong or braid 9 of any desired material, or of any desired shade or color, to produce such contrasting efiects and designs as are desired. The union of the upper materials 7 and flange l is accomplished by weaving the said lacing 9 through apertures 5 and slits or slots 8 in the following manner, and as clearly illustrated in Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8: The lacing 9 may be started at any point, usually at the heel of the shoe. he clearly shown in the drawings, said lacing enters an aperture 5 adjacent to one side thereof, passes through the slit or slot 8 ad- (Lil jacent to said side of the aperture and passes behind the strip 10 of upper material between said slit or slot 8 and its adjacent slit or slot in the same pair. Said lacing then passes outwardly through. said adjacent slot or slit and out through thesame aperture 5 adjacent to the opposite side thereof, across the face of the flange s and into the next adjacent aperture 5, where the operation above briefly described is repeated.

In this manner the lacing 9 unites the upper materials and flange completely around the shoe, said lacing being pulled tight, either as the weaving or lacing progresses, or after it is completed. This tightening action is clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, wherein, in Fig. e, the strip 1c of upper materials is illustrated as partially pulled into the aperture 5 by a preliminary or slight pull, and, alter the tightening has been completed, will substantially fill said aperture 5, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The efiect of this weaving and tightening is graphically illustrated in Fig. 8, from which View it will be apparent that an ornamental, artistic, and attractive shoe is thus produced.

In bending the flange 4. to upward position, the portion of said flange between the apertures 5 and the inner marginal edge of said flange, because of the presence of the slits or slots 6, will belly out slightly causing said slots or slits to open slightly, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, and thus afiord ventilation and coolness for the foot of the wearer, as well as further enhancing the attractive appearance of these shoes.-

These slits or slots 6, however, have a further and important iunction, in that because of their presence, coupled with the relative thinness of the flange a, full flexibility and foot freedom is provided, a feature that will be instantly appreciated and understood by those skilled in the art, as well as by the wearers of these shoes.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated a slight modification, wherein the'slots or slits 6 are omitted, and the flange 4, for flexibility and to prevent buckling or puckering thereof, is provided with notches 11, the upper marginal edge of the flange being illustrated as scalloped, thus not only fulfilling the function above briefiydescribed, but also mater cemes rially adding to the ornamental appearance and attractiveness of these novel shoes.

Each notch 11 is preferably located above an aperture 5 so that the pull or draw of the lacing 9 will not pucker the said flange, but such location of the notches 11 will largely depend upon the particular design being utilized, as will be understood.

lVly present novel shoes present many advantages in addition to those above specified. For example, my novel method of assembling these shoe parts obviates and eliminates the necessity of utilizing any last in their manufacture, thus materially lessening the time and expense of manufacture. Because of the presence of the lacing 9, the removal and replacement of the sole 1, in the event of wear, is a simple matter, and need not be accomplished by a skilled workman.

While my novel method, as above briefly explained, has been illustrated and described in the uniting of upper materials and a sole, it is capable of a far broader application. For examplasaid method may be utilized in uniting any portions,

sections or parts of upper materials. For example, in Fig. 10 I have illustrated the uniting of a moccasin tongue 12 and vamp 13, in the following manner:

The tongue 12 is provided with pairs of slits or slots 14 adjacent to its marginal edge, and the vamp 13 is provided with pairs of slits or slots 15 adjacent to its marginal edge. These edges are then brought into substantial abutment and overlaid with a. strip or layer 18 having double rows of apertures 16 and 17 therein. When the strip 18 is properly positioned, the slits or slots 14 and 15 will be in register with their respective apertures 16 and 17, in the same manneras above described for the slits or slots 8 and apertures 5.

Thereupon lacings 19 and 20 are woven or braided through the apertures 16, slots or slits 14, and apertures 17 and slits or slots 15, respectively, in the identical manner above described for the application of the lacing 9.

I believe that the above briefly described union or joint is also novel, and have included claims to this feature in the instant application.

In Fig. 12 I have illustrated one of the many variations of weaving or lacing possible with my invention, wherein the lacings are alternately woven through an aperture 16 and its cooperating or associated slots or slits 1 and thence through an aperture 17 and its cooperating or associated slots or slits'l5, thus producing an ternate weaving or lacing effect that is not only efficient but also attractive in appearance. This latter described operation of weaving may be accomplished by a single strip if desired, and as will be readily understood, by weaving or braiding alternate apertures and slits or slots and then retracing the weaving operation to weave or braid those apertures and slits or slots that were not afiected by the first weaving. Or two separate lacings can be utilized if desired, this being 0ptional with the manufacturer.

I believe that the boots or shoes illustrated and described herein, are novel, and have therefore claimed the same broadly in this application.

I also believe that the herein described methods of shoe manufacture are novel, and have thereother means through which a lacingmay be led.

It will be apparent, to those skilled in this art, that the lacing herein utilized is substantially locked inplace, after said lacing is tightened, because of the wedging or jamming effect thereon where it passes through the slits, slots or apertures in the upper. This is an important feature, because, in the event of breakage of a lacing, said lacing will not unravel or loosen as'readily as if it were led through openings of the same or greater dimensions than said lacing.

It will be further appreciated that the assembly of these shoes need not be accomplished at the manufacturing source, but may be made in interchangeable parts, shipped, and assembled by the wearer, dealer or seller.

While I have necessarily described my present invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that I may vary the size, shape and arrangement of parts within reasonably wide limits without departing from the'spirit of the invention.

My invention is further described and defined inthe form of claims as follows:

1. A boot or shoe, including a sole, an upturned marginal flange on said sole provided with spaced apertures adjacent to its outer edge, upper materials provided with spaced pairs of slits or slots, each pair of said slits or slots being in register with one of said apertures, and a lacing uniting said upper materials and said flange.

2. A boot or shoe, including a sole, an upturned marginal flange on said sole provided with spaced apertures adjacent to its outer edge, upper materials provided with spaced pairs of slits or slots of greater length thanthe height of said apertures in register with said apertures, and a lacing uniting said upper materials and said flange.

. 3. A boot or shoe, including a sole, an upturned marginal flange on said sole provided with spaced apertures adjacent to its outer edge, upper materials provided with spaced pairs of slits or slots in register with said apertures, and a lacing extending inwardly through each. aperture, through the respective pair of slits or slots in the upper materials, and outwardly through the same aperture, around said shoe.

4. A boot or shoe, including a sole, an upturned marginal flange on said sole provided with spaced apertures adjacent to its outer edge, upper materials provided with spaced pairs of slits or slots in register with said apertures, and a lacing extending inwardly through each aperture, through the respective pair of slits or slots in the upper materials, and outwardly through the same aperture, around said shoe, the material of said upper intermediate the slits or slots in each pair being pulled outwardly into the apertures in said flange.

5. A boot or shoe, including a sole, an upturned marginal flange on said sole provided with spaced apertures adjacent to its outer edge, said flange also having a plurality of slits or slots intermediate said apertures and the inner marginal edge of said flange, upper materials provided with spaced pairs of slits or slots in register with said apertures, and a lacing uniting said upper materials and said flange.

6. A boot or shoe including a sole, an upturned marginal flange on said sole provided with spaced apertures adjacent to its outer edge, said flange also having a plurality of slits or slots intermediate said apertures and the inner marginal edge of said flange whereby, on bending of the flange upwardly from said sole, said slitted or slotted portion of said flange will bulge outwardly and slightly open said slits or slots, upper materials provided with spaced pairs of slits or slots in register with said apertures, and a lacing cooperating with the apertures in said flange and with the pairs of slits or slots in said upper materials to unite said upper materials and said flange.

7. The improved method of manufacturing soles for use in boots or shoes, which includes the steps of channelling a sole to provide a marginal flange completely therearound, providing said flange with a plurality of spaced apertures intermediate its edges, providing said flange with slits or slots intermediate said apertures andthe inner marginal edge of said flange, bending said flange upwardly from said sole, and removing a portion of the margin remaining on said sole.

8. The improved method of manufacturing boots or shoes, which includes the steps of supplying a sole having a marginal flange completely therearound, said flange having a plurality of spaced apertures intermediate its edges, said flange being bent upwardly from said sole, providing upper materials with spaced pairs of slits or slots adjacent to their lower marginal edge, assembling said upper materials and flange, with said spaced pairs of slits or slots in register with the apertures in aid flange, and uniting the same by a lacing extending through said apertures and said pairs of slots.

9. The improved method of manufacturing boots or shoes, which includes the steps of supplying a sole having a marginal flange'completely therearound, said flange having a plurality of spaced apertures intermediate its edges, said flange being bent upwardly from said sole, providing upper materials with spaced pairs of slits or slots adjacent to their lower marginal edge, assembling said upper materials and flange, with said spaced pairs of slits or slots in register with the apertures in said flange, and uniting the same by a lacing extending inwardly through each aperture, through the respective pair of slits or slots in register therewith, outwardly through the same aperture, completely around said shoe.

10. The improved method of manufacturing boots or shoes, which includes the steps of supplying a sole having a marginal flange completely therearound, said flangehaving a plurality of spaced apertures intermediate its edges, said flange being bent upwardly from said sole, providing upper materials with spaced pairs of slits or slots adjacent to their lower marginal edge, assembling said upper materials and flange with said spaced pairs of slits or slots in register with the apertures in said flange, uniting the same by a lacing extending inwardly through each aperture, through the respective pair of slits or slots in register therewith, outwardly through the same aperture, completely around said shoe, and tightening said lacing, whereby the material of said upper between the slits in each pair will be pulled outwardly into the apertures in said flange.

11. The'improved method of manufacturing boots or shoes, which includes the steps of supplying a sole having a marginal flange completely therearound, said flange having a plurality of spaced apertures intermediate its edges, said flange being bent upwardly from said sole and having a plurality of slits or slots intermediate said apertures and the inner marginal edge of said flange, providing upper materials with spaced pairs of slits or slots adjacent to their lower marginal edge, assembling said upper materials and flange, with said spaced pairs of slits or slots in register with the apertures in said flange, and uniting the same by a lacing extending through said apertures and said pairs of slots.

12. The improved method of manufacturing boots or shoes, which includes the steps of supplying a sole having a marginal flange completely therearound, said flange having a plurality of spaced apertures intermediate its edges, said flange being bent upwardly from said sole and having a plurality of slits or slots intermediate said apertures and the inner marginal edge of said flange, providing upper materials with spaced pairs of slits or slots adjacent to their lower marginal edge, assembling said upper materials and flange, with said spaced pairs of slits or slots in register with the apertures in said flange, and uniting the same by a lacing extending inwardly through each aperture, through the respective pair of slits or slots in register therewith, outwardly through the same aperture, completely around said shoe.

13. The improved method of manufacturing boots or shoes, which includes the steps of supplying a sole having a marginal flange completely therearound, said flange having a plurality of spaced apertures intermediate its edges, said flange being bent upwardly from said sole and having a plurality of slits or slots intermediate said apertures and the inner marginal edge of said flange, providing upper materials with spaced pairs of slits or slots adjacent to their lower marginal edge, assembling said upper materials and flange with said spaced pairs of slits or slots in register with the apertures, in said flange, uniting the same by a lacing extending inwardly through each aperture, through the respective pair of slits or slots in register therewith, outwardly through the same aperture, completely around said shoe, and tightening said lacing, whereby the material of said upper between the slits in each pair will be pulled outwardly into the apertures in said flange.

i memes 1d. The improved method of uniting shoe sec tions, which includes the steps of providing the marginal edges of adjacent shoe sections with spaced pairs of slits or slots, providing a layer of suitable material with rows of spaced apertures, superimposing said layer over said adjacent shoe sections with the apertures in said layer in register with the spaced pairs of slits or slots in the shoe sections, and then uniting said sections and said layer by lacing extending inwardly through each aperture, through the pair of slits or slots in register therewith and outwardly through the same aperture completely along the joint between said sections.

15. The improved method of uniting shoe sections, which includes the steps of providing the marginal edges of adjacent shoe sections with spaced pairs of slits or slots, providing a layer of suitable material with rows of spaced apertures, superimposing said layer over said adjacent shoe sections with the apertures in said layer in register with the spaced pairs of slits or slots in the shoe sections, and then uniting said sections and said layer by lacing extending inwardly through each aperture, through the pair of slits or slots in register therewith and outwardly through the same aperture, thence to an aperture in the adjacent row of apertures, inwardly through said aperture in said adjacent row, through the pair of slits or slots in register 195 therewith, and outwardly through the same aperture, completely along the joint between said sections.

16. A boot or shoe, including a pair of substantially abutting sections provided adjacent to their 110 abutting edges with spaced pairs of slits or slots, an overlay superimposed on said marginal edges and provided with rows of spaced apertures, and lacing uniting said sections and said overlay through the medium of said apertures and said 115 slits or slots.

CLAUDE H. DANIELS. 

